Nasarawa Assembly Moves To Curtail Quackery, Holds Public Hearing On Private Health Facilities

Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau has assured of the House continued determination,  commitment and readiness to work in synergy with other relevant stakeholders to  address the challenges facing the health sector in the State.

The Speaker gave the assurance today (Thursday October 31, 2024) in Lafia while declaring open a Public Hearing organized by the House Standing Committee on Health on a Bill for a Law to Establish Nasarawa State Private Health Institution Management Agency Charge with the responsibility of Regulating Private Health Activities and Training Institutions, Licensing and Supervision of Health Service in the State and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.

Speaker Jatau urged participants to come out with relevant inputs that would help the House to pass a clean bill into law that would boost the health status of the people of the State.

He said the bill if finally become law will provide for the regulation and training institution for effective health care service delivery.

The Speaker lamented over the activities of quackery in the State which has placed the life of the people in danger.

“The bill is also to ensure proper monitoring and regulations of the private health centers in the state with the view to ensure strict compliance with the international best standard, guidelines and operation.

“The essence of the public hearing is to get inputs and make sure the right thing is done for the benefit of the state” he said.

Jatau commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for initiating the bill aimed at repositioning the health sector for better service delivery in the state.

On his part, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Larry Ven-Bawa appreciated participants for their inputs on the bill.

He assured that the committee will positively look into their  submissions and would come out with a good bill in that regard.

The lawmaker emphasized that the life of the people is of paramount importance and urged the public to provide meaningful assistance to the committee so as to have a good law that will address the identified issues. He called for such persons to make submissions to the committee secretariat for further legislative action.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Damina John Ali commended the assembly for always doing what is right via the public hearing.

Damina advocated for adequate funding, monitoring, training,, operational framework, research and mobilization, licensing, registration and quality health services.

He said that relevant regulations and guidelines should be the guide for the committee to avoid conflict in the law.

Representative of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Stephen Sasetu suggested that the Agency should be included in the Governing Board before passing the bill for effective monitoring of activities in the Primary Health Care Centers in the state.

Others, who made presentations suggested the creation of more departments in the agency, inclusion of members from other professional bodies in the leadership of the board, proper monitoring and supervision of the activities of health centers among others as well as to avoid multiple taxation and fee.

However, Nasarawa State Pharmaceutical Council, Association of Medical Scientists, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwifery, Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals in their separate submission rejected the bill, saying it is in conflict with the law of the WHO and the Federal Government in regulating, registering, licensing and training institutions.

They advised the assembly to engage relevant critical stakeholders to deliberate on the bill, look into the grey areas and represent it again.

It would be reported that those present at the occasion included the representatives of Ministry of Health, Hospital Management Board, Nasarawa State Primary Health Development Agency, Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency, Nigeria Labour Congress, College of Health, Science and Technology, Nasarawa State Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Allied Professionals among others.

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